Reporting
Report Writing
is the culmination of a process of assessment and/or investigation of a client’s presenting issues. The report plays several functions. It is the vehicle by which the psychologist communicates the findings of the investigation in order to increase the clients and other stakeholders of their understanding of the client’s strengths and difficulties, as well as make recommendations for interventions tailored to the client’s needs. Reports are also written to provide a long-term record that can be referred to in the future. As such, reports need to be communicated in ways that are understood, appreciated, and implemented by the client and stakeholder, to ensure optimal benefits to the client.
There are several forms reports can take. They largely fall into the categories below:
1. Assessment Reports
Assessment reports are aimed at addressing the referral parties’ and/or clients’ concerns by summarising quantitative and qualitative data collected from psychological or psycho-educational test administrations and making recommendations that help to facilitate their decision making in contexts related (but not limited) to: psychological therapy, educational institutions, courts, and insurance companies. Depending on the context, these reports can be read by various individuals, namely psychologists, teachers, other allied health professionals, judges, insurance agents, clients themselves, and their caregivers. The readability of the reports is important and writing styles may differ depending on the target reader.
2. Intervention reports
An intervention report (also known as therapy report, progress report, or case summary) is typically provided at the end of therapy with a client, or when the client is being handed over to another psychologist. It gives an overview of the client’s presenting problems and what was done in therapy to help the client address those issues.
3. incident reports
Incident Reporting is an important part of every organisation for awareness, records and actions relating to critical incidents such as near miss incidents, injuries, safety observations, corrective actions and follow-up procedures, to ensure client, worker and organisation safety in the workplace. An Incident Report captures the details of these critical incidents for documentation and possible submission to other contacts for follow-ups. This report should include the identification of risks, intervention provided and recommendations for follow-ups.
4. documentation and management
Documentation of work done with clients and stakeholders are an integral part of practice for community workers. Research has shown that record-keeping practices have an impact on client outcomes. Poor case notes can result in poor decision-making and adverse client outcomes (Preston-Shoot 2003, Cumming et al. 2007).